Flat spring for boots and shoes

ABSTRACT

A footwear constructed with a generally flat coil spring between the outer leather lining, the spring being located at parts of the footwear which are subject to excessive amount of bending and flexing; the present spring preventing the formation of objectionable wrinkles in the footwear appearance.

United States Patent 91 Hughes Jan. 2, 1973 [54] FLAT SPRING FOR BOOTS AND SHOES 377,203 l/l888 Lgngen ..36/2.5 R 630,570 8 1899 S ..36 58 X [76] inventor: Kathryn Hughes, 1204 Leet Rd., I I

Niles Mich- 41920 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 82,267

A footwear constructed with a generally flat coil spring between the outer leather lining, the spring [52] US. Cl- ..36/2.5-R, 36/58 being located at parts of the footwear which are sub- Illt- Cl. ject to excessive amount of bending d fl i th [58] Field of Search ..36/58, 2.5 R, 57, 4 present spring preventing the formation of objectionable wrinkles in the footwear appearance. [56] ReferencesCited 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMZ ma lli lli FLAT SPRING FOR BOOTS AND SHOES This invention relates generally to footwear for being worn by persons.

It is generally well known that most footwear after a period of use develop wrinkles in areas which are perticularly subject to being bent while walking, such repeated flexing thus forming the wrinkles permanently. The footwear thus assumes an old look which is objectionable to a person who is fastidious with his attire. Accordingly this situation is in want of improvement.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a footwear which incorporates means to present the development of wrinkles in areas which are stressed with excessive bending.

Another object is to provide a footwear which accordingly includes a flexible spring in the footwear construction, the spring being located between a lining and outer material of the footwear and placed in areas subject to excessive bending.

Yet another object is to provide a footwear which may be comprised of either a shoe or boot, and which may be for men, women, or children.

Other objects are to provide a footwear which is sim-. I ple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a tall boot shown partly in cross section and shown incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the spring member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a short boot or shoe incorporating the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a spring reinforced footwear according to the present invention wherein there is a shoe or boot 11 of conventional construction and which includes an upper 12 which may be of leather or any other material, on its outer side 13 and which includes an inrier lining 14 which may cover the interior side in full or part as shown. Thus there is a space 15 between the lining and outside. A generally flat coil spring 16 is fitted into the space 15 so to springingly return the footwear upper into an original normal position after it is bent during a walking operation.

Thus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the spring 16 is positioned at the rear of the ankle l7 and about the instep 18 where particularly there is an excessive bending during walking.

In the case of a long boot, the spring 16 is aldo positioned at the front of the knee 19 and at the knee near 20 as shown in FIG. 1.

Thus a means is provided for restoring a material stressed in bending to return to normal so to prevent an old look in a shoe or boot.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope -.of the present invention.

I claim as follows:

1. A foot and leg gear construction comprising a sole and a flexible leather upper extending integrally and continuously from the sole to a height above the wearers knee, said upper being adapted too {it snu ly on the wearers leg, in combination with a pair of at spiral springs mounted on the opposing sides of gear adjacent to and overlapping the area of the gear upper normally in abutment with the wearers knee, including inner linings enclosing said springs and retaining said springs at the desired locations adjacent the knee of the wearer and extending longitudinally to reinforce all portions of knee area undergoing flexure due to flexure of the knee. 

1. A foot and leg gear construction comprising a sole and a flexible leather upper extending integrally and continuously from the sole to a height above the wearer''s knee, said upper being adapted too fit snugly on the wearers leg, in combination with a pair of flat spiral springs mounted on the opposing sides of gear adjacent to and overlapPing the area of the gear upper normally in abutment with the wearer''s knee, including inner linings enclosing said springs and retaining said springs at the desired locations adjacent the knee of the wearer and extending longitudinally to reinforce all portions of knee area undergoing flexure due to flexure of the knee. 